Samsung and Sprint set release date for Epic 4G: August 11th (Rumor)

According to some rumors, the Samsung Epic 4G release date has been set for August 11^th, just one day before the launch of the much awaited Motorola Droid 2, expected on August 12^th. It is obviously that the two devices are going to compete against each other and it looks like Samsung decided they needed a head start.

The comparison between the Samsung Epic 4G and the Motorola Droid 2 is inevitable: both are very awaited smart-phone, both have a sliding QWERTY keyboard (and we all know keyboards are back in fashion again), very similar cameras and even displays. As we’ve already talked about the Droid 2, let’s focus on the characteristics of the Epic now. It has a 4” Super AMOLED multi-touch screen, very good for displaying the pictures taken by the 5 MP, rear-facing camera that has 3x digital zoom, LED flash and is able to capture amazing HD 720p videos. The 512MB internal memory and the 1GHz Hummingbird processor will ensure speed and precision for the device, while the Android 2.1 pre-installed operating system will be in charge, directing the hardware components. Unfortunately, as we’ve seen with the LG Optimus Z smartphone and many other recent Android powered devices, Google isn’t willing to install Froyo on devices from the beginning and still preffers a later upgrade to the Android 2.2 version.

Other specs for the Samsung Epic 4G include Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1, internal GPS and it’s good to know it comes with e 16GB MicroSD card, although the phone supports up to 32GB external storage devices. The 1500mAh battery will take care of the autonomy, while the six-axis motion sensor will enhance gaming performance and feeling. Other connectivity features and interface options are offered by the operating system and may vary after the eventual upgrade to Android 2.2.

From a more superficial point of view, the Epic looks more playful and a bit less classy than the Droid 2. Yet, the keyboard has a couple of extra buttons, like ‘zoom’, ‘back’ and page up, that should bring some extra comfort for users. In order to ensure some extra sale, Sprint and Samsung decided that the release date should be set for August 11^th, the day before the release of the Motorola Droid 2 at Verizon and the BlackBerry Torch at AT&T. Furthermore, rumor has it that on the announced day, Sprint stores will open earlier, at 8:00 AM, just to make sure people have all the time in the world to buy the phone until the other two rivals come out to tighten the battle.

The Samsung Epic 4G is one of the most promising devices that are going to be released in the near future. Although, for the moment, the Motorola Droid 2 will sell better, due to the success of its predecessor, it will be interesting to examine the figures in a couple of months, when the first reviews for the Samsung will have made their impact on the general public. I, for one, am more impressed by how the Epic looks (both design and spec-wise), rather than the Droid, but this may change, after the phones will be available for sale and we’ll be able to put together a proper head-to-head comparison.